Published: August 30, 2008 01:14 am            

Bulldogs punch out Devils

TAZEWELL, Va. — Fifteen years is a long time but the delighted Bulldog fans at Tazewell didn’t seem to mind.

Led by a series of big plays beginning with fumble recoveries on Gate City’s first two offensive touches by Shaquille McDonald and Mac McGuire, the Dogs (2-0) won a 29-19 over the Blue Devils Friday.

Tazewell punched out 402 yards of offense, building a 20-0 halftime lead before holding off the surging Blue Devils (1-0) and beat Gate City for the first time since 1993.

“We’re 2-0. That’s the only quote we need tonight,” said a happy T. J. Rasnick, who sent the huge home crowd into near hysterics with a 5-yard touchdown run late in the first half.

Rasnick, who has made a miraculous recovery from mid-summer cancer surgery, also started on defense and had an interception to go along with one touchdown-saving tackle.

The “big” offensive Bulldog, Matt Muncy, again was the primary power. Muncy scored twice, once on a three-yard run with 3:10 to play in the first quarter. He added a seven-yard scoring scamper with 7:45 left in the game. The 6-foot-4 senior finished with 143 yards rushing, and had two catches for 48 more. He also alternated with Cody Lockhart at quarterback.

“This was a big win for our team,” said THS coach Bobby Wyatt. “People are beginning to believe in them. They believe in themselves and the coaches do. We have some weapons.

“It’s a long season and we have only played two games. If we keep our confidence level high, let’s see how far we can go.”

Trailing by 20, Nick Colobro’s team showed its own fighting spirit. Gate City got two touchdowns in the third stanza. Tihlee Anderson had a dazzling 47-yard scoring run before Dustin Olson got a 10 yard score. Ked Byrd booted the first PAT for Gate City but Andrew Rhudy and McDonald teamed up to stop the two-point attempt on the second.

Anderson added a 95-yard kickoff return for the Blue Devils in the final stanza.

Colton Cook had another outstanding night kicking for Tazewell. He had field goals of 18 yards, 23 yards, and 17 yards, drilled a pair of PATs, and had two punts of over 50 yards.

Lockhart completed 10 passes for 139 yards and sure-handed Brandon Pauley had 8 catches for 98 yards. Dustin Dean picked up 77 yards on the ground for Tazewell, with a key 35-yard run for a critical first down.

Joseph Vaughn gained 82 yards rushing and Dustin Jones got 60, while Anderson rushed for 59. Steady THS pressure limited Anderson to 2 completions for 25 yards.

Each team picked up 12 first downs.

Eugene Hilton, John Corner, and Bruiser Moore were standouts defensively for the Dogs, who do not play again until September 12 at home against

Carroll County in a Southwest District game.



at Bulldog Stadium

Gate City..................................0 0 13 6 — 19

Tazewell.................................10 10 3 6 — 29

Scoring

First Quarter

Tazewell – Cook 18-yard field goal

Tazewell – Muncy, 3-yard run (Cook kick)

Second quarter

Tazewell

Rasnick, 5-yard run (Cook kick)

Cook, 23-yard field goal

Third Quarter

Gate City – Anderson, 47-yard run (Byrd kick)

Olson, 10-yard run (run failed)

Fourth quarter

Gate City – Anderson, 95-yard kick return (run failed)

Tazewell – Muncy, 7-yard run (kick failed)

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.